<p>Shennie is right. You don't HAVE to go to college to be a pop star. But you also could go to college to get an education but pursue pop music as an outside activity during that time as well. </p>
<p>I think I shared with you about a local girl here who is not only a contemporary singer who accompanies herself on piano (was also leads in school musical), but she also writes her own songs (as well as sings others'). She took a year off before college and her parents spent the tuition money on recording a private label CD at a recording studio with professional musicians. Her CD is sold in record stores in this area. She has had many gigs regionally with her band. Then she went away to college (St Lawrence) which was not to study pop music. But she still had a band there and had gigs in this region over the breaks and summer. She even did a tour in Ireland. I think she is no longer at college and is just pursuing her music career. She is NOT in NYC or LA but as many of us have suggested in old posts with you with that aspect, you have to start somewhere. She has paid gigs and is reviewed in papers in this region and is doing well. She is not on MTV or in NYC but has gotten her "career" off the ground. </p>
<p>Blossum, I did not see your post when I posted but I agree that a person who is very passionate about this field usually has a LOT of tenacity and drive and would be out there exploring all the options and things to do because you could not stop them if you tried. A parent can be a resource but most of this has to come from the kid. I could not strap my kid down if I tried (this is the one who is the performing artist). It's in her blood. If ya want something, you go out of your way and then some to pursue it and find a way. Of course, parents are involved but the kid leads the way. I know I never dreamt of doing any of this but just have learned along the way and try to be a resource. My daughter reminds me all the time, however, that she knows WAY more than me about this stuff, lol. (you'd have to hear her when she says that...)</p>
<p>Ha, ha, Blossom. I could be a branch on your family tree--on your aunt and uncle's side, that is. Librarian sounds nice too me. Wanted my girls to be teachers and my son as well. </p>
<p>I agree with you about the letting go to a large degree. But I do know that it is a big concern for me to get rid of my kids after high school, to put it crudely, and some of them were going to end up on the sofa driving me crazy, and driving H to throwing them out if I did not guide them with a route out of the house. And there is unfortunately a disconnect between a desire and the way to meet it with some kids. My son is interested in theatre and some of his ideas on theatre are not so hot, and not something I choose to fund and support. So there is a compromise here, and he is not adverse to letting me offer some options. He has, in fact, launched his on searches, all over the map, and I am not adverse to that. But kids sometimes will find some program that someone they know mentions without doing the research on it, and as a mom who is investing in it, I like to see what I am paying for. Sometimes it just is not worth the money. An experience parent can really cut out a lot of the flak that can add years to finding the best way. Not say that some of that flak could not be beneficial--I just feel they will run into their own obstacles regardless and finding an optimal environment when they first leave home just makes it easier for everyone. I have seen too many kids whose parents feel "it should be up to them" make some silly mistakes that really set them back or put them on a route that could have been avoided with a little adult guidance. </p>
<p>Having said all of that, the pop star route seems to me to be one where the kid will have to put alot of work in it. However, I can tell you that one famous star that we know, Christina Aguillera, had a stage mom right there mapping her way--we knew her family in PA back when, and S is friends with her sister who was a theatre kid. Many of these kids who do make it have a parent cutting through some of the red tape and red herrings. But it is the kid who has to learn the way as he goes along the route.</p>
<p>I lost my post, ah...here goes again...it is out in cyberland somewhere!</p>
<p>Out of curiousity, as a follow up to my post, I researched how our local girl was doing with her music career. As mentioned, she recorded her own CD in a year off prior to college. It was sold in regional stores. And she had gigs locally. Then at college, while she was not a music major, she formed a band there, where she is the vocalist and pianist, again, lots of her material is original and some is not. They had many gigs around college. Then they also toured Ireland. The band recorded its own CD and it has been reviewed in publications throughout New England. The band members were fellow college students, and some were from here. Then she left college as the band stuff was taking off. They are now recording their second CD, a live CD. She just turned 21. They have gigs now throughout New England and have had a few in NY. </p>
<p>As you can see, she kept pursuing this while going to college. She did not move to NY or LA. I know in past threads when discussing your D going right into the business (no college), the thoughts were for her to go to LA or NY and try to make it. That is possible but likely the harder route. This girl started here, first in our little rural town, then at college, and now has been reviewed in papers in the northeast and is performing in a wider region and recording with some professional musicians. Her career is taking off. You have to start somewhere and that somewhere might not be NY or LA to start. As well, a kid can go to college and pursue this alongside that. </p>
<p>This girl never studied voice but has a beautiful voice. She has always played piano as does her mom. She was the lead in the musical that my D was in with her at the high school though she is five years older than my D. Her dad is an artisan who owns a succesful artistic business as does her mom and they have supported all three of their kids, one who has LD. They did back her initial efforts in recording. I think they now have the entire band living at their house (other two kids do not live at home now). </p>
<p>But overall, she has taken it one step at a time. College was part of it and the other was starting locally, then at college and now regionally and is on her third album. This might be one avenue your child might want to explore. </p>
<p>In old threads, some of us discussed with you about your D forming a band locally and being lead singer and getting gigs. From seeds and beginnings, trees can grow. Hard to start out in the big time though.</p>
<p>Check out Montclair State in NJ. According to its web site, it is a quick 15 minute trip via Path train to NYC. They also seem to have a very large Music/Music Performance Program. I am no expert in Musical Theatre, but I am familiar with moderately priced schools in mid-atlantic area, as I am going that route for my younger daughter. I think it is definitely worth a look. Good luck</p>
<p>I live in a middle class town not far from Montclair State, and many of our best musicians go there. They do have an excellent music program, and many of the students do gigs there while going to school. (However, the PATH traing goes to Newark, not Montclair. It would be another 15/20 bus ride to Newark first--but easier to just take the commuter bus from Montclair into Port Authority in NY).</p>
<p>Since they changed the format, I haven't been able to post from my home computer. I just realized yesterday that I can post from work. I didn't go into any details about NYC schools because if my post wasn't accepted, I'd be wasting a lot of time. Anyway I live in the metro NY area and am familiar with the CUNY and SUNY system. As some of the suggested schools are apart of the system-I just wanted to pass info along. Unless things have changed drastically, there are no dorms or residential life at CUNY schools. This included Brooklyn College ( I grew up near by) Queens College (A. Copeland) and Lehman. SUNY Purchase is relatively close to NYC. It does have a campus and dorms and is known for its performing arts division. I believe Purchase is still considered northern westchester county, so I assume it is serviced by the Metro-north commuter railroad and it's probably around an hour (maybe less) to commute into NYC. New Yorkers consider New Paltz as upstate NY. It's around 90 miles north of NYC. If your daughter is interested in being near NY, this ain't the place for her. Other SUNY schools near NYC are Old Westbury-Stony Brook and Farmingdale. I do not think any of these 3 schools have a particularly strong music dept. But they're easily commutable into NYC. Some one mentioned Five Towns College which is on LI. (As are the 3 SUNY schools I just listed) I believe Five Towns uses a dorm at SUNY Farmingdale for its students so it is possible that they may allow one to take classes at either school. And to Garland-- I have a brochure from Montclair. They have a new NJ Transit station at the campus and their School of the Arts (SART) seems to be pretty impressive. But as I said I am not a Musical/Theatre expert. I'm just familiar with moderately priced NY schools. Good luck to all.</p>
<p>Errr...kid has mentioned college in CA or NY but has really done 0 to get info. BUT she wants to make a record NOW and she has spent HOURS AND HOURS on song selection, photographs etc.
And guess what Susan..someone asked her to sing their original for them and is allowing her to include it! And its a pop song she loves!
So what am I seeing here? A lack of college interest maybe?</p>
<p>Angst...I guess I've forgotten, but how old is your daughter? It sounds like she is trying the demo thing and pop singing. It will be interesting for HER to see how far this process she has begun takes her. To be honest, this is a terrific learning experience, as well as preparation for what she may do as a career. I'm guessing the oldest your daughter is would be a junior. That being the case, she has some time with her demo, etc. to see where this might be heading. Let's put it this way...if she wins a Grammy, she might want to pass on college. On the other hand, if this gets her nowhere, she will likely want to reevaluate how she plans to pursue her dream. I will say that I do think SHE needs to be taking the initiative on this. Anyone who plans to succeed in the performing arts (in any arena) MUST have quite a bit of their own self drive. Yes, we've heard about the parent/managers....but the reality is that these successful folks have also had the drive to succeed on their own. I honestly think that motivation is really as important, if not more so, than one's talent.</p>
<p>Angst....I can only give opinions/suggestions. But mine are that pursuing making a demo CD and pursuing looking into colleges need not be one or the other. The demo CD might get her work and it might not. It is worth purusing. You can't apply to college at the last minute, particularly audition based programs so she should concurrently look into that to keep that option open. Another idea is applying and deferring a year. Or just a gap year to begin with. I told you of the local girl who took a gap year and recorded a CD (which was put out and sold under their own label) and went to college the following year (though kept her music going concurrently and after a year or two of college is now full time doing her CDs with a band and touring as well.) I'd hate to see your D close these options off. Zillions of kids record demo CDs. They cannot afford, however, to JUST do that because, well, uh, lots of kids attempt it and thus the odds are difficult. My D has friends applying for BFA programs, or else in them now, who have recorded demos as well. But they did not JUST do that. </p>
<p>I understand the work she has put into this and it is a great experience. I just would not make it be the only thing she pursues with her music. Forming a band, looking into training programs, college, etc. are worth exploring. My own D made a demo CD last year though not for the same purposes as your D. She just wanted to do it and also was taking music technology in school and chose to record her own CD at their recording studio. I surely know what is involved in the time these kids put into picking songs. I can't begin to tell you how all fall my D has spent deciding and researching and choosing her college audition songs....the first audition is this weekend. I thought she would never decide. She went through a LOT Of music and weeks and weeks of trying it all out. She also went through tons of music to create/write the musical revue she is now directing. She located music around the country, including some Bdway music yet not released. It was an obsession as she loves that process. But all the while she is doing 8 college applications, 8 college auditions, and over a dozen college essays. So, while the CD takes time, I don't know that I would put aside every other possibility to explore your D's next steps with her ambitions because the CD itself is a "chance" and one worth taking but also difficult odds so I am not sure I would make it that or nothing. I would help her explore what else is out there and discuss options. If she is not into that, of course, that is another thing. But I would have a realistic discussion. She does not yet have representation yet so it is hard to say. Your next step is what.....sending the demo to agents? Have a plan B too. Just my suggestion. Kids can work on projects of these sorts while also applying to college and so forth. I think she should go for it with the CD but also explore various options concurrently as option number one is still a big risk though risks are worth taking. </p>
<p>Angst, thanks for explaining, thought she was a junior. I don't think you have to deal with colleges yet then. What you do have to do, if you want to keep college performance programs an option down the line, is make sure she is continuing with training in all the requisite facets. You can explore options but nothing needs to be decided due to her only being in tenth grade. The training stuff is necessary to keep up due to keeping performance majors at college an option. </p>
<p>Jamimom thats interesting what you say. I really do NOT want to be a stage mom BUT I do want to help and I know that YOUTH helps in the business so I am helping her now. I read where Beyonces dad manages her career as does Ashless and Jessicas and Britneys mom was in there slugging away so looks like I am in good company..LOL</p>
<p>Angst...I'm confused. In one post above you say your daughter is in 10th grade. In the one a few posts later, you say your daughter is a junior. Which is it?? To be honest, I agree with others...if she is in 10th grade, college isn't just over the horizon. If she is in 11th grade (junior) it is.</p>
<p>Wow, I read through this entire thread and was confused, too, thumper, with the 10th grade vs. junior thing. I'm also confused because I seem to remember having this same discussion on the old forum.</p>
<p>Angst...just my opinion here...even IF you want to be a "stage mom", your daughter needs to be doing the yeoman's work on this goal. YOU won't be the pop star. YOU won't be making the connections. YOU won't be the "starving artist". YOU won't be dealing with the ups and downs related to the arts fields. Your daughter will be subject to ALL of these things. What has she done without your guidance to further the goal of becoming a pop star? Wishing to become the future Brittany is very different that really pushing oneself to become the future Brittany. I guess what I'm saying is that I think you need to provide support, give helpful suggestions when asked, give information that DD can NOT get herself, and be a supportive parent especially if/when things don't go as easily as your daughter might hope. BUT your daughter needs to be taking a very very active role in marketing herself for her future. It sounds like she has begun to do this (with her CD, and such), but she needs to continue. I still say, she needs to form a band, write and arrange some music, get gigs, get some recognition at least locally, etc.</p>